Abraham Davis in Revolutionary War: 1st New Jersey

As the previous post explained (click HERE), I recently added two new 5th great-grandparents in my Homan ancestral ine —

Now let’s discuss Abraham’s participation in the Revolutionary War.  This one’s for you, Dad!

There are two main sources for Abraham’s war story.  A grandson of Abraham’s named George W. Davis (1797-1853) wrote an autobiographical letter to his children in which he spoke at some length about his grandfather’s service.^[1]George W. Davis, “Autobiography;” letter, circa 1835 (Gonzales, Texas); privately held by Daniel Spitler, Phoenix, Arizona, 2024. [Typewritten transcript, date unknown, of hand-written … Continue reading

In addition, there is a Research Summary recently prepared by the Monmouth Battlefield Visitor Center.^[2]“Research summary – Abraham Davis,” Trevor Quasius, research staff, Monmouth Battlefied Visitor Center, Monmouth, New Jersey, August 2022, provided to Daniel Spitler, Phoenix, … Continue reading The research staff there compared the George W. Davis Autobiography with Abraham’s military records and deconflicted some points of disagreement.  It’s a sound analysis.  My take on Abraham’s military career follows its lead.

In particular, the Research Summary makes a strong case that Abraham’s grandson, writing over 50 years after the Revolutionary War, must have confused the order in which his grandfather participated in events.  The Autobiography claims that Abraham’s privateering occurred before his enlistment in the 1st New Jersey regiment, a highly unlikely scenario.

Abraham Davis (abt 1740-1792) enlisted as a private in the 1st New Jersey regiment on 10 November 1775, not long after the beginning of the war and eight months before the Declaration of Independence.^[3]“U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783,” digital images, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com : 2 April 2025); entry for Abraham Davies, 11 January 1776 muster roll (Capt. Andrew McMyers … Continue reading  This is indicated in a muster roll from 11 January 1776 which shows Abraham Davis serving in Capt. Andrew McMyers company, “in barracks” at Elizabethtown, New Jersey.  Abraham volunteered in response to the Continental Congress authorizing the formation of the 1st and 2nd New Jersey regiments on 9 October 1775.

Unfortunately, no further records regarding Abraham’s service in the 1st New Jersey can be found.  Many muster rolls were lost in fires in 1800 and of course in 1814 when the British famously burned Washington.

The 1st New Jersey remained in the northern part of the state for some time, during which two noteworthy actions occurred.  In January 1776 and probably for weeks beyond that, elements of the 1st NJ were involved in locating and capturing Tories on Long Island.^[4]“1st New Jersey Regiment,” American Revolutionary War 1775 to 1783 website, 2017 (https://revolutionarywar.us/ : 16 April 2024).  It is impossible to say if Abraham Davis was involved or not, but it is cool to imagine that he was … and wonder if he bumped into Abraham Woodhull of the famous Culper Spy Ring!^[5]See Netflix show Turn: Washington’s Spies and the Alexander Rose book, Washington’s Spies: The Story of America’s First Spy Ring (2007).

The second action occurred on 23 January 1776.  The regimental commander of the 1st NJ, Lord Stirling, led 40 volunteers in a daring raid on a 300-ton British military supply vessel called the Blue Mountain Valley that ran aground off Sandy Hook.^[6]Eric Wiser, “Blue Mountain Valley and the Rise of Lord Stirling,” Journal of the American Revolution website, 19 May 2020 (https://allthingsliberty.com : 17 April 2025).  A number of boats filled with local Elizabethtown militia accompanied the expedition.

Stirling successfully captured the vessel, thereby denying the British Army a tremendous store of supplies, including tons of coal, potatoes, porter, oats, and pigs.  Stirling was promoted to brigadier general and received accolades from Congress for his “laudable and exemplary” conduct.  We have no idea if Abraham Davis was one of the volunteers, but it’s certainly possible given his maritime background.  The Autobiography does not mention it, however.

On 3 May 1776, the 1st New Jersey was ordered to Fort Ticonderoga, New York to join Gen. Benedict Arnold in defending the Lake Champlain corridor. Transport from northern New Jersey would have been by boat up the Hudson River and through Lake George, a distance of 250 miles.  Along with the 2nd NJ, the 1st New Jersey built fortifications, including the Jersey Redoubt, and possibly assisted in the construction of Arnold’s fleet of ships at Skenesborough.

Arnold’s mission was to delay the British push south from Canada through Lake Champlain and then the Hudson River in an attempt to isolate New England from the rest of the rebellious colonies.  Arnold served at the time under Gen. Horatio Gates, the commander of the Northern Department of the Continental Army.

Gen. Arnold hastily built a fleet of 16 ships and utilized them very cleverly on 11 October 1776 in the naval engagement known as the Battle of Valcour Island.  His fleet was soundly trashed (11 of 16 ships were destroyed, captured or sunk), but he succeeded in warding off British attempts to take Fort Ticonderoga that year.  It was a tactical defeat but a strategic victory.  The Battle of Saratoga, considered one of the key engagements of the entire war, was won by America the following year partly because of the delay produced by Arnold on Lake Champlain in 1776.

It was regarded as a defeat for the rebels, but because of it, (British Gen.) Carleton did not take Ticonderoga, which put off a northern invasion for another year.^[7]Richard M. Ketchum, “Saratoga: Turning Point of America’s Revolutionary War,” (New York: Holt and Company, 1997), 41.

The map above and the painting at the top of the post show how Arnold’s small fleet hid in the lee of Valcour Island.  The much larger British fleet did not discover the Americans until they had already passed the island in the main channel going south, and then had to turn back against the wind to give battle.

Given Abraham’s experience in his father’s shipping business and the dearth of experienced seamen in Arnold’s fleet, it is quite possible that he played a more prominent role in the engagement than would be warranted for his rank.  Although the Autobiography never mentions the Battle of Valcour Island, it does claim that Abraham was a captain in the 1st New Jersey regiment.  That’s not true — he was a private —  but it is conceivable the reference is to a momentary role on Lake Champlain.  I doubt that Abraham captained one of the vessels since most captains have been identified, but maybe he was a helmsman or boatswain.  Regardless of the role, the timing of his service with the 1st NJ strongly suggests involvement.  It was a dangerous business.  Out of 650 or so men in Arnold’s flotilla, 80 were killed or wounded and 120 were captured.

The enlistment period for initial Continental Army volunteers was one year.  Thus, Abraham Davis should have been discharged after 12 months in the 1st New Jersey regiment — November 1775 to November 1776.   That is the conclusion of the Research Summary and I agree.

There is some mystery, however, about Abraham’s whereabouts in the months after his stint with 1st NJ.  I will return to this subject later.

NEXT UP: Abraham Davis as Privateer and the Battle of Chestnut Neck